U.S. Sens. Carper and Snowe introduce Resolution 251 to promote improved collection, processing, consumption of recyclable materials; AF&PA endorses resolution, continued improvement of sustainability practices

Kendall Sinclair

WASHINGTON , August 3, 2011 (press release) – American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman today released the following statement regarding the association’s endorsement of U.S. Senate Resolution 251, introduced by U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), which expresses “support for the improvement of collection, processing and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the United States.”

“The forest products industry has been a leader in recycling, nearly doubling our paper recovery rate over the last 20 years to 63.5 percent in 2010. Coupled with the renewable nature of the raw material, recovering paper for recycling helps extend the life of paper and paper-based packaging products and is an important part of the industry’s sustainable practices.

“With the introduction of this resolution, the Senate officially recognizes the vital importance of recycling as a business practice that benefits our country environmentally, socially and economically.

“We commend Senators Carper and Snowe for their leadership in promoting recycling, and we look forward to continuing our own improvement with the goal of increasing our industry’s recovery rate to exceed 70 percent by 2020.”


BACKGROUND

AF&PA’s endorsement is announced in conjunction with the Recycling Roundtable, an advocacy group that also includes The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the Steel Recycling Institute, the Aluminum Association, the Glass Packaging Institute, the Solid Waste Association of North America, the National Solid Waste Management Association, and the Paper Recycling Coalition.


The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Industry companies produce about $175 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.

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